荷花 héhuā lotus
How to remember 荷花: 荷 lotus + 花 flower = lotus.
Characters
How it is used
- The lotus flower - 荷花盛开 (héhuā shèngkāi) lotuses in full bloom.
- Same flower as 莲花 (liánhuā); 荷花 emphasizes the flower/pond scene, 莲 the plant/seed/root in food and Buddhism.
- A symbol of purity - 出淤泥而不染 (unstained though it grows from mud).